antiquity, which have had the approbation of thousands of years; and for the President's house, I should prefer the celebrated fronts of modern buildings, which have already received the approbation of all good judges. Such are the Galerie du Louire, the Gardes meubles, and two fronts of the Hotel de Salm. But of this it is yet time enough to consider. In the meantime I am, with great esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servant. TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. Philadelphia, April 10, 1791. I had the honor of addressing you on the 2d instant, which I presume would overtake you at Richmond. The present, I imagine, will not overtake you till you get to Wilmington. Since my last, I have been honored with your two letters of March 31st, and two others of April 4th, one of which was circular. A copy of this, I sent to the Vice-President, and as Colonel Hamilton has asked a consultation on a letter of Mr. Short's, we shall have a meeting with the Vice-President to-morrow. I will then ask their advice also on the communication to Colonel Beckwith, relative to the supplies to the Indians. Finding, within a day or two after my letter to you of March 27th, that Putnam was gone to the westward, I detained my letter to him, and applied to General Knox, from whom I obtained some information on the Eastern boundary. No official information of the affair of Moose Island is received here. Perhaps it is on the road to you. Nor do we hear anything more of the disturbance said to have arisen on the borders of New York. I have asked the favor of my friend Mr. Madison to think on the subject of the consular commission to Mr. Barclay, so far as we have done so and conferred together as yet. We are both of opinion it may be used; but we shall think and confer further. I presume your only doubt arose on the constitutional powers to "supply vacancies" during the recess of Congress. There was an omission also (which might strike your mind), of the limitation of the commission "till the end of the next session of Congress." As the Constitution limits them, this clause is always useless; however, as it does no harm, it has been usually inserted in the commissions. But in the case of Mr. Barclay, such a clause would require a very awkward explanation to the Emperor of Morocco; and as Mr. Barclay is acquainted with the constitutional determination of his commission, it was thought better to omit the useless expression of it. The acquisition of ground at Georgetown is really noble. Considering that only £25 an acre is to be paid for any grounds taken for the public, and the streets not to be counted, which will in fact reduce it to about £19 an acre, I think very liberal reserves should be made for the public. Your proclamation came to hand the night of the 5th. Dunlap's and Bache's papers for the morning of the 6th being already filled, I could only get it into Brown's evening paper of the 6th. On the 7th, the